- Minister advises parties to refrain from propaganda against CPEC, says project a ‘game-changer’ which would benefit all stakeholders
The National Assembly was reassured on Wednesday that no change has been made in the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
In his policy statement in the House on the project, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the corridor will benefit all the areas of the country. He said the project being described as “game-changer and fate-changer” for Pakistan will serve all the federating units.
The minister said while work is underway on Gwadar-Quetta Highway, the development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is among priorities of the government. He clarified that Gwadar and Khunjerab will be mutually connected through multiple routes. These included eastern, western and central routes. He said the work on eastern route started a year ago and it will be made operational before the other two alignments by 2016.
The minister said CPEC is a national project and it would not be any service to the nation if it is made controversial. He said some forces, including a neighbouring country, is perturbed over the mega Chinese investment in Pakistan and is spitting venom against it. He said the political parties should not believe in negative propaganda and avoid giving controversial statements about it.
The minister said the corridor project is not just the name of one road but it envisages development of energy projects, port, roads and industrial collaboration with China. He said M-8 and N-85 are being constructed in order to connect Gwadar with other parts of the country. He said Gwadar Port development also includes construction of an international airport to fully make it a gateway for the corridor project.
Iqbal also said that Pakistan is “not getting a single dollar as loan” for the energy projects. The Chinese private sector will invest 35 to 37 billion dollars in the energy sector. He added that the Chinese investment will also attract investment from other countries of the world, including the United States, Europe and Middle East.
Earlier, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that focus of the new Investment Policy is to provide investor-friendly climate to local and foreign investors. He said Pakistan has been declared second best country for investment by the Japan External Trading Organization. He added that Sindh government had already earmarked 2,000 acres of land for the Japanese investors in Special Economic Zone on National Highway.
Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan told the House that Federal Board of Revenue has devised a procedure to check pilferage in the transit goods enroute to Afghanistan by monitoring through tracking system and Mobile Enforcement Units.
Separately, he also demanded evolving a new NFC Award in consultation with the provinces. He also demanded that ministers should ensure their presence in Parliament. The PPP and PTI staged a walkout to register their protest on these issues.
To a calling attention notice, Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training Dr Darshan told the House that the government is providing every possible help for admissions of the students selected for scholarships abroad under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package.
The National Assembly also passed “The Securities Bill, 2015”. The bill has already been passed by the Senate.